Cargo area structure

ABSTRACT

A cargo area structure for a pickup truck has a bottom, interior side walls, and at least one interior end wall. The interior side walls and the end wall have a top edge and a bottom edge, with the bottom edge being attached to the bottom of the cargo area structure. At least one transverse divider has a first end and a second end and extends between the side walls with the first end adjacent to one of the side walls and the second end adjacent to the other side wall. Each of the side walls is generally planar and has a plurality of generally parallel vertically extending protrusions integrally formed on each of the side walls. The protrusions extend inwardly from the plane of the side wall and are spaced apart along the side wall so as to define mounting slots between the protrusions for mounting the divider between the side walls.

[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 08/630,228filed Apr. 10, 1996, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/485, filedJun. 7, 1995, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 08/248,460 filed May23, 1994, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 07/961,065 filed Oct. 14,1992, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 07/735,196 filed Jul. 24, 1991which is a continuation of Ser. No. 07/261,081 filed Oct. 24, 1988,which is a continuation of Ser. No. 07/091,747 filed Sep. 1, 1987.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to structures for cargo areas forpick-up trucks, and more particularly to means in the form of dividersfor partitioning the cargo space and means to anchor the dividers to aliner or a truck pick up box and means for covering a selected dividedarea.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0003] Structures, such as liners, have been previously provided toprotect the beds of pick-up trucks from the abrasive effects of usingthe truck to haul cargo. These liners have met with considerablecommercial success in recent years. Such liners not only protect the bedof the truck, but enhance the appearance of the vehicle. When thevehicle is to be resold the liner can be removed to provide a bed whichhas the finish originally provided, or it can be replaced with anotherliner.

[0004] However, prior to my prior patent applications, no such structurenow has been provided with means to partition the cargo space into areasof selected sizes to accommodate different cargo, and to provide a meansof maintaining the cargo in place as it is being transported by thevehicle. Further, the provision of means to cover selected divided cargoareas appears to be new.

[0005] Recently truck manufacturers have elected to construct the truckbed of plastic or similar material negating the need for a protectivebed liner. A need remains to partition such truck beds intocompartments.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0006] In one form of the present invention, a liner is provided whichis intended to be used to protect a bed of a pick-up truck, and whichincludes partitioning means which permits the liner to be partitioned toaccommodate cargos of various sizes. The partitioning means takes theform of dividers and slots or the like, formed in the liner to receivethe dividers. The dividers can also be provided with slots to receivedividers to thereby provide a variety of configurations to accommodatecargos of sizes over a wide range. With the dividers locked in place,cargo can be placed in the cargo areas defined by the dividers and willbe retained in place as the cargo is transported by the truck.

[0007] Means are provided to securely lock the divider to the bed of thepick-up truck or to the truck bed liner.

[0008] The present invention can also be in the form of the truck beditself of a pick-up truck being provided with slots or similar means toaccommodate dividers to divide the box into distinct cargo areas.

[0009] When the truck bed is provided with the slots to receive thedividers means are provided to lock the dividers to the truck bed.

[0010] A cover is provided which is adapted to fit over and coverselected cargo areas formed by the dividers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0011] A better understanding of the present invention will be had uponreference of the following drawing in which like reference numeralsrefer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:

[0012]FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of the preferredembodiment of the present invention;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view illustrating anotherpreferred embodiment of the present invention;

[0014]FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of another preferredembodiment of the present invention illustrating the liner in place inthe bed of a pick-up truck;

[0015]FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to a portion ofthe structure shown in FIG. 3;

[0016]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment ofthe present invention;

[0017]FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the circled portion of FIG. 5;

[0018]FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of another preferredembodiment of the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 8 is a transverse cross-sectional view of another preferredembodiment of the present invention;

[0020]FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of thestructure shown in FIG. 8; and

[0021]FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of thestructure shown in FIG. 7;

[0022]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a portion of the structure shownin FIG. 5;

[0023]FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the hingeused with the box shown in FIG. 11;

[0024]FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of another portion of thehinge used with the box shown in FIG. 11;

[0025]FIG. 14 is an elevational view of preferred means for locking adivider in place; and

[0026]FIG. 15 is an elevational view of another preferred means forlocking a divider in place.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] Referring to FIG. 1, the preferred liner 10 of the presentinvention is illustrated as being intended for use in a pick-up truckbed. The liner 10 includes a floor 16, sidewalls 18, a forward end wall20, and a rearward end wall 22. The liner 10 is preferably constructedof a heavy plastic or similar resilient, yet strong material. As iscommon, the liner 10 is molded or otherwise formed into a box-likeconfiguration. Openings 23 are provided in the exterior portion of thesidewalls 18 to accommodate the wheel wells of the pick-up truck (notshown).

[0028] The sidewalls 18 of the liner 10 are provided with a plurality ofinwardly facing, vertically extending slots 24 spaced along the interiorlength of the wall. The slots 24 on one of the sidewalls 18 are eachaligned with a corresponding slot 24 on the opposite side wall 18 toremovably receive a transversely extending divider 26. A plurality ofthe dividers 26 are provided so that a number of pairs of slots 24 canbe used to divide the liner 10 into a plurality of transverselyextending cargo carrying areas (see, for example, FIG. 3). The end walls20 and 22 are also provided with inwardly facing vertically extendingslots 32, similar in construction to the slots 24, and which align withcorresponding slots 32 on the opposite end wall. Dividers 38 can beprovided to be received in the slots 32 to divide the liner 10 intoelongated cargo carrying areas. The dividers 26 are also preferablyprovided with vertically extending slots 34 which receive the dividers38 to further divide the cargo area into smaller areas to accommodatesmaller cargo.

[0029] With reference to FIG. 2, a further embodiment of the presentinvention is illustrated and includes a truck bed in the form of aone-piece, unitized box, generally indicated as 40, fitted behind aconventional truck cab 41.

[0030] The box 40 is preferably composed of a polymerizable materialsuch as resilient and durable plastic. The box 40 may be formed as asingle piece or may be two or more pieces welded together by heat orchemical treatment so as to form a one-piece box 40.

[0031] The box 40 includes a pair of outer walls 80, a front wall 84,and a rear wall 82. The rear wall 82 may be hinged to function as a dooror tailgate.

[0032] The box 40, in other respects, includes the elements of the liner10 of FIG. 1, such as a floor 16, side walls 18, a forward end wall 20,and a rearward end wall 22. The box 40 further includes verticallyextending slots 24 and 32.

[0033] The advantages offered by the box 40 over a conventional pick-upbox are manifold and include being resilient to dents, rust-resistantand lightweight. The box 40 may be fitted behind the cab 41 when the cab41 is newly produced or may replace a damaged or undersized conventionalpick-up box.

[0034] Illustrating again the liner 10 of the embodiment discussedinitially, as shown in FIG. 3, the liner 10 of the present inventionsits in the bed of the pick-up truck 42, and utilizes dividers 26, 38and slots 24, 32 and 34 to divide the bed of the truck 42 into cargoholding areas of different sizes to accommodate cargo of differentsizes.

[0035] While the liners 10 and 40 have been described as includingsidewalls 18 and end walls 20 and 22, it should be realized that it maybe desirable in some situations to provide the liner without either anend wall or a sidewall, or with portions of these walls removed. Forinstance, it may be desirable to provide the liners 10 or the box 40without the end wall 22 to permit access to the interior of truck bedthrough the tailgate 54 commonly provided on such trucks.

[0036] Now referring to FIG. 4 for a description of another preferredembodiment of the present invention a liner 110 is shown therein asincluding slots 112 formed in sidewalls 114 of the liner 110 and slots116 formed in a front wall 118 of the liner 110.

[0037] Dividers 120 extend between the slots 112 to divide the interiorof the liner 110 into compartments. Dividers 122 are provided to extendbetween the slots 116 and one of the dividers 120 to further divide theinterior of the liner 110 into compartments.

[0038] As can best be seen in FIG. 5 a longitudinal divider 124 extendsbetween the transverse dividers 120 and is mounted thereto by brackets126 (FIG. 12).

[0039] As best seen in FIGS. 9 and 11 a box 128 is provided having acover 130. The box 128 is positioned between the divider 124 and thesidewall 114 with the cover 130 fastened to the divider 124 by hingemembers 132. The hinge member 132 are best seen in FIGS. 13.

[0040] As best seen in FIGS. 8 and 9 the cover 130 and a sidewall 136 ofthe box 128 form a weather-tight seal in a conventional manner along thejoint 138.

[0041] As best seen in FIGS. 5 and 16 the dividers 120 are mounted inplace by stop members 140 which are mounted to the bed 142 of the truckand have a pivotal portion 144 which can be rotated upwardly to theposition shown in FIG. 7 to engage one of the sides of the divider 120and to urge the other side of the divider 120 against the face formingthe slot 116 to retain the dividers 120 in place and to prevent themfrom disengaging from the slots 116 as the truck is in use.

[0042] The pivotal portion 144 is shown (FIG. 6) to be in the form of aneyebolt having a transversal portion 146 which is pivotally retained bypivot blocks 148. It is apparent that other means could be provided toprevent the dividers 120 from moving back and forth in the slots 116.The portion 144 extends upwardly through an opening provided in thetruck bed liner 110.

[0043] A U-shaped member 149 (FIG. 6) or other similar stop member canbe fastened by welding or the like to the sidewall 150 of the truck bedto engage the dividers 120 to aid in preventing movement of the dividers120 in the slots 116.

[0044]FIGS. 7 and 10 disclose an embodiment wherein the slot 116 isformed by spaced protrusions 150. In such a construction an eyebolt 152is provided which extends through holes 153 formed through theprotrusions 150 and through the end of the divider 120 to lock thedivider 120 in the slot 116. A wing nut 154 or the like will retain theeyebolt 152 in the mounted position. Such an eyebolt 152 is provided ateach end of each divider 120 to extend through the holes 153 formed ineach protrusion 150.

[0045]FIGS. 14 and 15 disclose other preferred means for fixing thedividers 120 in place by preventing them from moving transversely in theslots 116.

[0046] In FIG. 14 the bed liner 112 is formed with a corner pocket 154by a corner support 156 which provides the means to position an eyebolt158 or the like to engage the face of the divider 120 to aid inretaining the divider 120 in place in the slot (not shown).

[0047]FIG. 15 discloses a metal plate 160 adapted to be welded orotherwise mounted directly to the truck bed 142. The plate 160 isprovided with a threaded opening 162 to receive an eyebolt (not shown)or the like. The plate 160 is positioned so that an eyebolt mounted inthe hole 162 will engage the face of a divider 120 to maintain thedivider 120 in the slot 116.

[0048] It should be understood that while the various embodiments of thepresent invention have been described as being used with a truck bedliner with suitable modifications the invention can be used with justthe truck bed without the liner. Truck beds are being formed today ofplastic and other similar materials and with slots so that the need fora liner has been substantially reduced. But ever where metal truck bedsare used with pre-formed slot provided the divider arrangement of thepresent invention can be used with the various fastening means whichhave been described being mounted directly to the bed of the truck.

[0049] Also although several embodiments of the present invention havebeen disclosed, it should be apparent to one with ordinary skill in theart that many other modifications can be made without departing from thespirit of the present invention as expressed by the scope of theappended claims.

1. In combination: a cargo area structure for a pick-up truck having abottom, interior sidewalls and at least one interior end wall; saidinterior sidewalls and said end wall having a top edge and a bottomedge, said bottom edge being attached to said bottom; a divider having afirst end and a second end and extending between said sidewalls withsaid first end adjacent one of said sidewalls and said second endadjacent the other of said sidewalls; means for mounting said divider inplace between said sidewalls; said divider extending closely adjacentsaid bottom to divide said structure into separated cargo carryingportions; and said divider mounting means comprising slots formed insaid sidewalls, each of said slots being adapted to receive said firstend or said second end of said divider and mounts connected between saidcargo area structure and said divider and engaging said divider to mountsaid divider within said slots.
 2. The combination as defined in clam 1wherein said structure comprises a bed liner and wherein said sidewalls,and said at least one end wall and said bottom fit within a pick-up boxconventionally provided with said pick-up truck.
 3. The combination asdefined in claim 1 wherein said divider extends closely adjacent saidtop edges of said sidewall.
 4. The combination as defined in claim 1wherein said structure comprises a truck bed mounted to a pick up truck.5. The combination as defined in claim 4 and which said mounts aresecured to said bottom and extend into engagement with said divider tourge said divider into a locked position within said slots.
 6. Thecombination as defined in claim 4 and which said mounts extend throughsaid ends of said divider and engage said sidewalls of said cargo areastructure to secure said dividers in said slots and to said cargo areastructure.
 7. The combination as defined in claim 1 and including asecond divider extending substantially perpendicular to said firstmentioned divider and an enclosed box mounted within said cargo areastructure between said first mentioned divider and one of said sidewallsof said cargo area structure.
 8. In combination: cargo area structurefor a pick-up truck having a bottom, interior sidewalls and at least oneinterior end wall; said interior sidewalls and said end wall having atop edge and a bottom edge, said bottom edge being attached to saidbottom; a first divider having a first end and a second end andextending between said sidewalls with said first end adjacent one ofsaid sidewalls and said second end adjacent the other of said sidewalls;means for mounting said divider in place between said sidewalls; saiddivider extending closely adjacent said bottom to divide said structureinto separated cargo carrying portions; said divider mounting meanscomprising slots formed in said sidewalls, each of said slots beingadapted to receive said first end or said second end of said divider; asecond divider extending substantially perpendicular to said firstdivider and an enclosed box mounted within said cargo area structurebetween said first mentioned divider and one of said sidewalls of saidcargo area structure.
 9. The combination as defined in claim 8 and saidbox having a cover and including a hinge mounted between said cover andsaid second divider.
 10. The combination as defined in claim 8 and saiddivider mounting means comprising slots formed in said sidewalls, eachof said slots being adapted to receive said first end or said second endof said divider and mounts connected between said cargo area structureand said divider and engaging said divider to mount said divider withinsaid slots.
 11. The combination as defined in claim 10 and which saidmounts are secured to said bottom and extend into engagement with saiddivider to urge said divider into a locked position within said slots.12. The combination as defined in claim 8 wherein said structurecomprises a bed liner and wherein said sidewalls and said at least oneend wall and said bottom fit within a pick-up box conventionallyprovided with said pick-up truck.
 13. The combination as defined inclaim 8 wherein said divider extends closely adjacent said top edges ofsaid sidewall.
 14. The combination as defined in claim 12 wherein saidstructure comprises a truck bed mounted to a pick up truck.